About Our Lady of Guadalupe · Colorado Springs, Colorado
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a historic Catholic parish in Colorado Springs, Colorado, founded in 1948 by Theatine priests as a national parish to serve the Spanish-speaking Catholic community of the Pikes Peak region. For decades it was the principal Hispanic parish in the area, offering Mass in Spanish long before most other parishes in the city. In 2025 the parish was merged with nearby Divine Redeemer Church and elevated by Bishop James Golka to become the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer — the first diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs and a designated pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Today the community is served by Capuchin Franciscan friars and continues to celebrate Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap. (Rector of the merged Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Colorado Springs
Why belong here
Our Lady of Guadalupe has been the heart of Spanish-language Catholic life in Colorado Springs for more than 75 years and remains a place where Hispanic and Anglo families worship side by side, with five Sunday Masses (three in Spanish, two in English) and bilingual daily Masses. The community is grounded in Capuchin Franciscan spirituality and offers ongoing faith formation for children and adults, separate English- and Spanish-language choirs, weekly Adoration, regular Confession in English and Spanish, and a Spanish-language Charismatic Renewal prayer group. As of 2025 it has been elevated to the first diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs — a place of pilgrimage with extended hours for prayer and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer.
Mass times at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 pm
- Tuesday 7:30–8:30 pm (after the 7:00 pm Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 am – 6:30 pm (Hora Santa)
About Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a bilingual Catholic parish in central Colorado Springs with deep roots in the Hispanic Catholic community of southern Colorado. Founded in 1948 as a national parish for Spanish-speaking Catholics, it has long been the spiritual home of Spanish-language Mass and ministry in the Pikes Peak region.
- Founded September 19, 1948 at 407 S. Tejon Street
- Originally staffed by Theatine (Clerics Regular) priests
- Designated a 'national parish' for Hispanic Catholics
- Current building occupied since 1984
- Now served by Capuchin Franciscan friars (O.F.M. Cap.)
A History / Un Historia
The parish traces its origin to the mid-1940s, when the Denver Archdiocese sent Spanish-speaking priests such as Father Emmanuel Sandoval and Father John Ordinas to St. Mary Cathedral for Hispanic Catholics in the region. Archbishop Urban J. Vehr purchased the former Second Congregational Church on Tejon Street in July 1948, and the first Mass was celebrated on September 19, 1948. Theatine Father Anthony Barcelo became the first pastor in September 1949. Theatine Father Francis Colom — 'Padre Poncho' — led the parish for nearly thirty years and oversaw the move to the current East Pikes Peak Avenue building in 1984. After Father Colom's retirement in 1993, Deacon Emilio Reyes administered the parish until Father Francisco Quezada took over in 2004; he was followed by Father Alfredo Garcia (2006) and Father John Toepfer, O.F.M. Cap. (2012).
- Fr. Emmanuel Sandoval — early Spanish-speaking priest at St. Mary Cathedral
- Fr. John Ordinas — began monthly Spanish Mass at the cathedral
- Fr. Anthony Barcelo, C.R. — first pastor, installed September 1949
- Fr. Francis Colom, C.R. ('Padre Poncho') — pastor for ~30 years; built the current church (1984)
- Deacon Emilio Reyes — administrator from 1993
- Fr. Francisco Quezada — pastor 2004–2006; later founded diocesan Hispanic Ministry office
- Fr. Alfredo Garcia — installed August 6, 2006
- Fr. John Toepfer, O.F.M. Cap. — installed August 2012
Elevation to Diocesan Shrine (2025)
On June 29, 2025, Bishop James R. Golka, after consulting the Presbyteral Council and the pastors of both parishes, issued a decree merging Our Lady of Guadalupe with nearby Divine Redeemer Church and elevating the combined community to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer — the first diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs. Bishop Golka presided at the dedication Mass on July 5, 2025, with a procession to mark the occasion. Father Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap., the former pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was named rector of the new shrine. The decree cited both the inability of the old Our Lady of Guadalupe building to accommodate the faithful who come to venerate the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the architectural quality of the Divine Redeemer church, which the diocese described as 'a peculiar building of architectural value and beauty' shaped by the theology of the Second Vatican Council.
- Decree issued by Bishop James R. Golka on June 29, 2025
- Dedication Mass celebrated July 5, 2025
- First diocesan shrine in Colorado Springs
- Designated pilgrimage site for the 2025 Jubilee Year
- Father Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap. named rector
Parish Staff and Clergy
Our Lady of Guadalupe is staffed by Capuchin Franciscan friars together with a deacon, a director of religious education, choir directors, office staff and maintenance. The bilingual staff mirrors the parish's bilingual mission, with most roles filled in both English and Spanish.
- Rev. Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap. — Pastor / Párroco ([email protected])
- Rev. Vincent Carrasco, O.F.M. Cap. — Parochial Vicar / Vicario Parroquial
- Deacon Juan Moreno — Diácono
- Valerie Carriedo — Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
- Ricardo Sánchez — Director of Religious Education / Educación Religiosa
- Marcela Corona — Office Assistant
- Jazmin Nunez — Office Assistant
- Sandra Rohr — Choir Director, English
- Antonio Salinas — Choir Director, Spanish
- Juan Gonzalez — Maintenance / Mantenimiento
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs an ongoing Religious Education program under Director Ricardo Sánchez to prepare children and adults for the sacraments and to deepen Catholic life in both English and Spanish. The program is part of the broader diocesan Hispanic Ministry effort, which also offers Spanish-language Pre-Baptism classes (Clases Pre-Bautismales).
- Director of Religious Education: Ricardo Sánchez
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- Pre-Baptism classes in Spanish (diocesan Hispanic Ministry)
- Adult faith formation through diocesan Center for Evangelization and Catechesis
Music and Liturgy
Music is a vital part of worship at Our Lady of Guadalupe, with two separate choirs — one for English-language Masses under Sandra Rohr, and one for Spanish-language Masses under Antonio Salinas. The parish also hosts the diocesan St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum, a youth choral program for grades K–12 that meets every Friday from September through May and teaches proper singing, music reading, parts-singing and liturgical understanding.
- English Choir — Director: Sandra Rohr
- Spanish Choir — Director: Antonio Salinas
- St. Cecilia Schola Cantorum — diocesan youth choral program, K–12, Fridays Sept–May
- Contact for SCSC: [email protected]
Parish Devotions and Prayer Groups
Beyond weekday Mass, the parish offers weekly Adoration on Thursdays (Hora Santa, 8:30 am–6:30 pm) and is home to a Spanish-language Charismatic Renewal prayer group that meets on Friday evenings. The Capuchin friars have long supported the diocesan Cursillo Movement, with Father John Toepfer previously serving as its Spiritual Advisor.
- Adoration / Hora Santa — Thursday 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
- Spanish Charismatic Renewal prayer group — Friday evenings
- Cursillo Movement — three-day weekends and monthly Ultreyas (diocesan, based here)
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers — diocesan association meeting at the parish
- Disciples on the Way — diocesan evangelization and prayer support group
Contact and Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during posted office hours. The parish office is bilingual and serves both English and Spanish-speaking faithful.
- Parish Office Phone: (719) 633-5559
- Parish Line: (719) 633-7204
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm (closed for lunch 12–1 pm)
- Address: 926 Farragut Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80909 (parish office); 2715 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80909 (parish/church site)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Emmanuel Sandovalmid-1940s
Spanish-speaking priest sent by the Denver Archdiocese to St. Mary Cathedral; preceded the parish itself.
- Father John Ordinasmid-1940s
Began celebrating a monthly Spanish Mass at the cathedral.
- Father Anthony Barcelo, C.R. (Theatine)Sept. 1949–
First pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe; Theatine.
- Father Francis Colom, C.R. ("Padre Poncho")c. 1960s–1993 (nearly 30 years across two stints)
Theatine; oversaw the move from Tejon Street to the current building in 1984.
- Deacon Emilio Reyes1993–
Took over administration of the parish after Father Colom.
- Father Francisco QuezadaAugust 2004 – July 2006
Left to start the Diocese's Office of Hispanic Ministry.
- Father Alfredo GarciaAugust 6, 2006 –
Installed as pastor.
- Father John Toepfer, O.F.M. Cap.August 2012 –
Capuchin Franciscan; later granted a six-month sabbatical. Served as Spiritual Advisor for the diocesan Cursillo Movement.
- Father Alex Diaz, O.F.M. Cap.appointed 2024
Became pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe; in 2025 named rector of the merged Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer.